The Hammer An Umpire Podcast

In this episode, host Kevin Weber discusses the age of assessment and accountability in umpiring, how to have a good relationship with your assigner, changes in CCA 3-man mechanics, and a poll for the greatest umpire in history.

Kevin has been umpiring since his high school days, however, he’s been working consistently in amateur baseball since 2006. His story is the tale of what umpire camps and perseverance can accomplish. Kevin demonstrates that the umpire camp route is an alternative to the professional umpire school path. His road to success has been through self-study, camps, and clinics, most notably Bruce Doane’s camps. Kevin has attended the Doane February camp, 2-man advanced camp, and 3-man camp on multiple occasions. He also attended the CBUA 4-Man Invitation Clinic twice. Kevin has worked high school (MHSAA), JUCO (MCCAA), NAIA (WHAC/Crossroads), and NCAA Division I (MAC) (Horizon) (MVC), II (GLIAC), and III (MIAA) contests. He's also worked a Big Ten Conference non-con game in 2023 along with MAC and Horizon League series, and MVC non-con games. In 2022, Kevin worked the GLIAC NCAA DII Conference tournament and the NCAA Division III Regionals. In 2023, Kevin worked the NJCAA Division III, Region 12 tournament, and the MIAA Tournament. Additionally, Kevin has worked the MHSAA State Finals three times (2015, 2019, & 2023). He is always trying to hone his umpire skills to continue moving up the umpiring ladder. Kevin took on an assigner role, assigning varsity MHSAA baseball games for the West Michigan Umpire Association and tournament and travel team games for the Grand Rapids Umpire Alliance. He is happily married, has one daughter, and teaches high school Social Studies and English in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Happenings on days 2 & 3 of the 2023 Doane 3-Man Camp.

Kevin has been umpiring since his high school days, however, he’s been working consistently in amateur baseball since 2006. His story is the tale of what umpire camps and perseverance can accomplish. Kevin demonstrates that the umpire camp route is an alternative to the professional umpire school path. His road to success has been through self-study, camps, and clinics, most notably Bruce Doane’s camps. Kevin has attended the Doane February camp, 2-man advanced camp, and 3-man camp on multiple occasions. He also attended the CBUA 4-Man Invitation Clinic twice. Kevin has worked high school (MHSAA), JUCO (MCCAA), NAIA (WHAC/Crossroads), and NCAA Division I (MAC) (Horizon) (MVC), II (GLIAC), and III (MIAA) contests. He's also worked a Big Ten Conference non-con game in 2023 along with MAC and Horizon League series, and MVC non-con games. In 2022, Kevin worked the GLIAC NCAA DII Conference tournament and the NCAA Division III Regionals. In 2023, Kevin worked the NJCAA Division III, Region 12 tournament, and the MIAA Tournament. Additionally, Kevin has worked the MHSAA State Finals three times (2015, 2019, & 2023). He is always trying to hone his umpire skills to continue moving up the umpiring ladder. Kevin took on an assigner role, assigning varsity MHSAA baseball games for the West Michigan Umpire Association and tournament and travel team games for the Grand Rapids Umpire Alliance. He is happily married, has one daughter, and teaches high school Social Studies and English in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Host Kevin Weber gives a detailed look at his experience in the 2023 CBUA 4-Man Umpire Evaluation Clinic in Indianapolis, IN.

Kevin has been umpiring since his high school days, however, he’s been working consistently in amateur baseball since 2006. His story is the tale of what umpire camps and perseverance can accomplish. Kevin demonstrates that the umpire camp route is an alternative to the professional umpire school path. His road to success has been through self-study, camps, and clinics, most notably Bruce Doane’s camps. Kevin has attended the Doane February camp, 2-man advanced camp, and 3-man camp on multiple occasions. He also attended the CBUA 4-Man Invitation Clinic twice. Kevin has worked high school (MHSAA), JUCO (MCCAA), NAIA (WHAC/Crossroads), and NCAA Division I (MAC) (Horizon) (MVC), II (GLIAC), and III (MIAA) contests. He's also worked a Big Ten Conference non-con game in 2023 along with MAC and Horizon League series, and MVC non-con games. In 2022, Kevin worked the GLIAC NCAA DII Conference tournament and the NCAA Division III Regionals. In 2023, Kevin worked the NJCAA Division III, Region 12 tournament, and the MIAA Tournament. Additionally, Kevin has worked the MHSAA State Finals three times (2015, 2019, & 2023). He is always trying to hone his umpire skills to continue moving up the umpiring ladder. Recently, Kevin took on an assigner role, assigning MHSAA games for the West Michigan Umpire Association and tournament and travel team games for the Grand Rapids Umpire Alliance. He is happily married, has one daughter, and teaches high school Social Studies and English in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

In this episode, host Kevin Weber discusses pace of play, infield fly rule, runner’s lane rule, seeking evaluations, and 3-man at youth levels.

Kevin has been umpiring since his high school days, however, he’s been working consistently in amateur baseball since 2006. His story is the tale of what umpire camps and perseverance can accomplish. Kevin demonstrates that the umpire camp route is an alternative to the professional umpire school path. His road to success has been through self-study, camps, and clinics, most notably Bruce Doane’s camps. Kevin has attended the Doane February camp, 2-man advanced camp, and 3-man camp on multiple occasions. He also attended the CBUA 4-Man Invitation Clinic. Kevin has worked high school (MHSAA), JUCO (MCCAA), NAIA (WHAC/Crossroads), and NCAA Division I (MAC) (Horizon) (MVC), II (GLIAC), and III (MIAA) contests. He's also worked a Big Ten Conference non-con game in 2023 along with MAC and Horizon League series, and MVC non-con games. In 2022, Kevin worked the GLIAC NCAA DII Conference tournament and the NCAA Division III Regionals. In 2023, Kevin worked the NJCAA Division III, Region 12 tournament, and the MIAA Tournament. Additionally, Kevin has worked the MHSAA State Finals three times (2015, 2019, & 2023). He is always trying to hone his umpire skills to continue moving up the umpiring ladder. Recently, Kevin took on an assigner role, assigning MHSAA games for the West Michigan Umpire Association and tournament and travel team games for the Grand Rapids Umpire Alliance. He is happily married, has one daughter, and teaches high school Social Studies and English in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Host Kevin Weber shares his observations from the first day of the Doane 2-Man Umpire Camp.

Kevin has been umpiring since his high school days, however, he’s been working consistently in amateur baseball since 2006. His story is the tale of what umpire camps and perseverance can accomplish. Kevin demonstrates that the umpire camp route is an alternative to the professional umpire school path. His road to success has been through self-study, camps, and clinics, most notably Bruce Doane’s camps. Kevin has attended the Doane February camp, 2-man advanced camp, and 3-man camp on multiple occasions. He also attended the CBUA 4-Man Invitation Clinic. Kevin has worked high school (MHSAA), JUCO (MCCAA), NAIA (WHAC/Crossroads), and NCAA Division I (MAC) (Horizon), II (GLIAC), and III (MIAA) contests. He's also scheduled to work Big Ten Conference and Horizon League non-con games in 2022. In 2022, Kevin worked the GLIAC NCAA DII Conference tournament and the NCAA Division III Regionals. Additionally, Kevin has twice worked the MHSAA State Finals (2015 & 2019). He is always trying to hone his umpire skills to continue moving up the umpiring ladder. Recently, Kevin took on an assigner role, assigning MHSAA games for the West Michigan Umpire Association and tournament and travel team games for the Grand Rapids Umpire Alliance. He is happily married, has one daughter, and teaches high school Social Studies and English in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

In this episode, host Kevin Weber discusses umpire observations and answers listener questions, specifically NFHS rules changes, pickoff plays at first base, and MHSAA Finals and local tournament observations.

Kevin has been umpiring since his high school days, however, he’s been working consistently in amateur baseball since 2006. His story is the tale of what umpire camps and perseverance can accomplish. Kevin demonstrates that the umpire camp route is an alternative to the professional umpire school path. His road to success has been through self-study, camps, and clinics, most notably Bruce Doane’s camps. Kevin has attended the Doane February camp, 2-man advanced camp, and 3-man camp on multiple occasions. He also attended the CBUA 4-Man Invitation Clinic. Kevin has worked high school (MHSAA), JUCO (MCCAA), NAIA (WHAC/Crossroads), and NCAA Division I (MAC) (Horizon), II (GLIAC), and III (MIAA) contests. He's also scheduled to work Big Ten Conference and Horizon League non-con games in 2022. In 2022, Kevin worked the GLIAC NCAA DII Conference tournament and the NCAA Division III Regionals. Additionally, Kevin has twice worked the MHSAA State Finals (2015 & 2019). He is always trying to hone his umpire skills to continue moving up the umpiring ladder. Recently, Kevin took on an assigner role, assigning MHSAA games for the West Michigan Umpire Association and tournament and travel team games for the Grand Rapids Umpire Alliance. He is happily married, has one daughter, and teaches high school Social Studies and English in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

In this episode, host Kevin Weber discusses observations on novice umpires, a uniform checklist for camps and clinics, and answers several listener questions on Deep B vs Deep C, calling balls and strikes, and dealing with injuries. 

Kevin has been umpiring since his high school days, however, he’s been working consistently in amateur baseball since 2006. His story is the tale of what umpire camps and perseverance can accomplish. Kevin demonstrates that the umpire camp route is an alternative to the professional umpire school path. His road to success has been through self-study, camps, and clinics, most notably Bruce Doane’s camps. Kevin has attended the Doane February camp, 2-man advanced camp, and 3-man camp on multiple occasions. He also attended the CBUA 4-Man Invitation Clinic. Kevin has worked high school (MHSAA), JUCO (MCCAA), NAIA (WHAC/Crossroads), and NCAA Division I (MAC), II (GLIAC), and III (MIAA) contests. He also recently worked his first postseason collegiate games. Additionally, Kevin has twice worked the MHSAA State Finals (2015 & 2019). He is always trying to hone his umpire skills to continue moving up the umpiring ladder. Recently, Kevin took on an assignor role, assigning MHSAA games for the West Michigan Umpire Association and tournament and travel team games for the Grand Rapids Umpire Alliance. He is happily married, has one daughter, and teaches high school Social Studies and English in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

In this episode, Kevin Weber highlights past interviews with Tim Farwig, Matt Watkoski, Kirk Weber, and Kirk VanderLaan.